Mask and vent assembly therefor
First Claim
1. A CPAP mask assembly for use with a system for supplying breathable gas pressurized above atmospheric pressure to a human or animal, the mask assembly comprising:
- a mask including a rigid plastics shell and an inlet tube adapted to connect to a gas supply conduit, the shell provided with a seal to contact the human or animal in use; and
a vent assembly for gas washout of CO2-laden gas from the mask or the conduit provided to the mask while reducing noise generated by gas washout, the vent assembly including an insert attachable to the mask or conduit, the insert having at least one gas washout orifice extending from an inner side of the insert oriented, in use, towards the human or animal'"'"'s face to an outer side oriented, in use, towards the atmosphere, the gas washout orifice being open in use, whereinthe inner side of the insert includes an inner flanged end portion that is structured to extend inside the mask or conduit and the outer side of the insert includes an outer flanged end portion that is structured to extend outside the mask or conduit, andthe insert includes a plurality of said orifices,wherein a cross-sectional area of each orifice at the inner side of the insert is larger than a cross-sectional area of each orifice at the outer side of the insert, and the insert is insertable into an opening in the mask or conduit in only a single orientation which a smaller end of each orifice is positioned at the outer side of the insert.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A mask (10) for use with a system for supplying breathable gas pressurized above atmospheric pressure to a human or animal'"'"'s airways. The mask (10) includes a mask shell (12) which is, in use, in fluid communication with a gas supply conduit and a gas washout vent assembly (20). The gas washout vent assembly (20) includes at least one gas washout orifice (22) extending from a first side of the vent assembly (20) positioned, in use, adjacent the human or animal'"'"'s face and a second side positioned, in use, adjacent the atmosphere. The cross-sectional area of the orifice (22) at the first side is larger than the cross-sectional area of the orifice (22) at the second side.
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Citations
67 Claims
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1. A CPAP mask assembly for use with a system for supplying breathable gas pressurized above atmospheric pressure to a human or animal, the mask assembly comprising:
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a mask including a rigid plastics shell and an inlet tube adapted to connect to a gas supply conduit, the shell provided with a seal to contact the human or animal in use; and a vent assembly for gas washout of CO2-laden gas from the mask or the conduit provided to the mask while reducing noise generated by gas washout, the vent assembly including an insert attachable to the mask or conduit, the insert having at least one gas washout orifice extending from an inner side of the insert oriented, in use, towards the human or animal'"'"'s face to an outer side oriented, in use, towards the atmosphere, the gas washout orifice being open in use, wherein the inner side of the insert includes an inner flanged end portion that is structured to extend inside the mask or conduit and the outer side of the insert includes an outer flanged end portion that is structured to extend outside the mask or conduit, and the insert includes a plurality of said orifices, wherein a cross-sectional area of each orifice at the inner side of the insert is larger than a cross-sectional area of each orifice at the outer side of the insert, and the insert is insertable into an opening in the mask or conduit in only a single orientation which a smaller end of each orifice is positioned at the outer side of the insert. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A CPAP mask assembly for use with a system for supplying breathable gas pressurized above atmospheric pressure to a human or animal, the CPAP mask assembly comprising:
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a mask adapted to be in communication with the pressurized gas in use, the mask having an inlet tube that is, in use, adapted to be in fluid communication with a gas supply conduit, said mask including a shell made from polycarbonate or another rigid plastic material, the shell being provided with a sealing membrane to provide a gas tight seal with the user in use; and a vent assembly to exhaust CO2-laden gas from the mask while reducing noise generated by gas washout, the vent assembly comprising; at least four gas washout orifices, each said orifice having an inner side that, in use, is oriented towards the user'"'"'s face, and an outer side that, in use, is oriented towards atmosphere, each said orifice being open in use at least during the inhalation and exhalation phases of the user'"'"'s breathing cycle, wherein each said orifice has a substantially round cross section along its length, and a cross-sectional size or area of each orifice at the inner side is larger than a cross-sectional size or area of the orifice at the outer side, and a transition portion between the inner and outer sides of each said orifice has a cross-sectional size or area that varies along at least a portion of a length thereof, wherein the vent assembly comprises an insert attachable to the mask, and six orifices extending through the insert, and wherein the insert is insertable into an opening in the mask in only a single orientation in which a smaller end of each orifice is positioned at the outer side of the insert. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A CPAP mask assembly for use with a system for supplying breathable gas pressurized above atmospheric pressure to a human for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea, the CPAP mask assembly comprising:
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a mask including a rigid plastic shell and an inlet tube adapted to connect to a gas supply conduit, the shell provided with a flexible seal to seal against the human in use, the mask comprising polycarbonate material; and a vent assembly provided to continuously exhaust CO2-laden gas from the mask during the entire breathing cycle of the human while reducing noise generated by gas washout, the mask including only a single opening for purposes of CO2 washout, the single opening being delineated by a rim of said polycarbonate material, the vent assembly comprising only a single insert provided to the single opening in the mask and including a plurality of gas washout orifices, wherein at least one portion of the insert includes an inner portion defining a first flange that engages an inner surface of the rim, and an outer portion defining a second flange that engages an outer surface of the rim, the first and second flanges defining a recess or groove therebetween to receive the rim of the mask, wherein a cross-sectional area of each orifice at an inner side of the insert is larger than a cross-sectional area of the orifice at an outer side of the insert, wherein the insert comprises a material that is less rigid compared to the polycarbonate material of the rim, wherein an outer end of each orifice at the outer side of the insert is positioned outward of the outer surface of the rim, wherein the insert includes a main body and the first and second flanges are provided at the perimeter of the main body, the plurality of gas washout orifices are provided in the main body and the first and second flanges are radially outward of the plurality of gas washout orifices, and wherein the insert is insertable into the single opening in only a single orientation in which a smaller end of each orifice is positioned at the outer side of the insert. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A CPAP mask assembly for use with a system for supplying breathable gas for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea, the CPAP mask assembly comprising:
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(a) a rigid plastic shell having an inlet tube for connection to a conduit; (b) a flexible sealing membrane attached to the rigid plastic shell, the flexible sealing membrane and the rigid plastic shell together defining a breathing chamber; and (c) a vent assembly, the vent assembly comprising; (i) an opening in the mask assembly for receiving a removable vent insert, the opening bounded by a rim; and (ii) the vent insert having more than one orifice, the vent insert having, in at least one cross-sectional view, at least one groove at its periphery, the vent insert being removably attached to the mask assembly by the engagement of the at least one groove and the rim, wherein the vent insert is structured and configured to reduce noise during gas washout, and wherein a cross-sectional area of each orifice at an inner side of the vent insert is larger than a cross-sectional area of each orifice at an outer side of the vent insert, and the vent insert is insertable into the opening in only a single orientation in which a smaller end of each orifice is positioned at the outer side of the vent insert. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A CPAP mask for use with a system for supplying breathable gas for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea, the CPAP mask, comprising:
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(a) a vent assembly, the vent assembly comprising; (i) an opening in the CPAP mask for receiving a removable vent insert, the opening bounded by a rim; and (ii) the vent insert having more than one orifice, the vent insert having, in at least one cross-sectional view, at least one groove at its periphery, the vent insert being removably attached to the CPAP mask by the engagement of the at least one groove and the rim, wherein the vent insert is structured and configured to reduce noise during gas washout, and wherein a cross-sectional area of each orifice at an inner side of the vent insert is larger than a cross-sectional area of each orifice at an outer side of the vent insert, and the vent insert is insertable into the opening in only a single orientation in which a smaller end of each orifice is positioned at the outer side of the vent insert. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A CPAP mask assembly for use with a system for supplying breathable gas for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea, the CPAP mask assembly comprising:
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(a) a rigid plastic shell having an inlet tube for connection to a conduit; (b) a flexible sealing membrane attached to the rigid plastic shell, the flexible sealing membrane and the rigid plastic shell together defining a breathing chamber; and (c) a vent assembly, the vent assembly comprising; a vent insert received in an opening in the CPAP mask assembly, the opening in the CPAP mask assembly bounded by a rim, and the vent insert having more than one orifice, the vent insert having, in at least one cross-sectional view, at least one groove at its periphery, the at least one groove and the rim engaged when the vent insert is attached, wherein the vent insert is structured and configured to reduce noise during gas washout, and wherein a cross-sectional area of each orifice at an inner side of the vent insert is larger than a cross-sectional area of each orifice at an outer side of the vent insert, and the vent insert is insertable into the opening in only a single orientation in which a smaller end of each orifice is positioned at the outer side of the vent insert. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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60. A CPAP mask for use with a system for supplying breathable gas for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea, the CPAP mask, comprising:
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a vent assembly, the vent assembly comprising; a vent insert received in an opening for purposes of CO2 washout in the CPAP mask while reducing noise generated by CO2 washout, the opening in the CPAP mask bounded by a rim, and the vent insert having more than one orifice, the vent insert having, in at least one cross-sectional view, at least one groove at its periphery, the at least one groove and the rim engaged when the vent insert is inserted into the opening, wherein the at least one groove of the vent insert and the opening have non-circular, complementary shapes, and wherein a cross-sectional area of each orifice at an inner side of the vent insert is larger than a cross-sectional area of each orifice at an outer side of the vent insert, and the vent insert is insertable into the opening in only a single orientation in which a smaller end of each orifice is positioned at the outer side of the vent insert. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
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67. A CPAP mask for use with a system for supplying breathable gas for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea, the CPAP mask, comprising:
a vent assembly, the vent assembly comprising; a vent insert received in an opening for purposes of CO2 washout in the CPAP mask, and the vent insert having more than one orifice, wherein the vent insert is structured and configured to reduce noise during CO2 washout, and wherein a cross-sectional area of each orifice at an inner side of the vent insert larger than a cross-sectional area of each orifice at an outer side of the vent insert, and the vent insert is insertable into the opening in only a single orientation in which a smaller end of each orifice is positioned at the outer side of the vent insert.
Specification